The Carrero Contract - Selling Your Soul (Mafia Romance)

Chapter 92

I had nothing my whole life. This place was everything—home, safety, security and warmth. It was all I ever wanted in my life. It doesn’t deserve to be neglected like this. These walls deserve care.

Alexi just stands there, infuriatingly quiet, watching me, and I am not sure he even heard me. He just stares as I cry softly and stare at the mirror as though I can will it back into one piece. I am in so much internal pain and distress.

‘Alexi!’ I yell at him, bringing myself back to tear my gaze away from the ruins. Frustrated and slamming the boudoir door behind me to close out the stench which is still wafting our way. I have no desire to check the others, and wipe a tear from my cheek that is rolling over my skin.

She has destroyed my home. I won’t leave it like this, in the hands of some inadequate hoe bag. I won’t walk away and let it crumble into disrepair. I can practically hear its walls crying out for me to come save it. He offered this to me … he offered a real piece of owning it. It’s not just ‘come back and be my servant’ … he offered me a real chance at ownership and being important in this place.

My brain is in chaos, torn between my heart and my head, and I know it’s stupid to be impulsive when I am feeling this way. I should leave and really consider his offer and what that means for my future.

‘Twenty-five percent.’ It’s all he says, eyes on me, completely serious and I blink at him, sniffing back the upset and my flu, eyes from him to the bar and back again as my brain tries to push away the emotional irrational fog that is clouding logic.

I know I’m tired, sick, upset and I should walk away. It’s like I am glued to the spot and some weird dormant maternal instinct for my baby is refusing to back down.

He has seen the weakness and is playing hard ball while he has an opening. I know this and I should shoot him down. Forever the clever negotiator going in for a kill with something he knows will work. I’ve exposed a weakness and he intends to utilise it. I may as well use the upper hand if he really wants me back.

‘Eighty percent? It’s more mine than it has ever been yours. I want IT … not a connection to you.’ My brain is a whirring mass of clicks and spins as I try to pull it together and think about what I am agreeing to here. Voice raspy with feeling, he is seeing the Achilles Heel and diving right in. Master manipulator won’t miss out on my moment of low.

I’m too emotionally connected to this place, too close and it’s clouding my judgement. I should walk out and get some space and perspective to think about this, but my mouth and brain are not working as one. My heart is pounding like crazy.

‘Fifty … Equal shares. A partnership on paper but I will stay out of the running. I will make sure this club is worth your efforts and abide by your boundaries.’ He isn’t moving, isn’t breaking a sweat the way I am and I can’t just put it on being unwell. I know I am digging my own grave by even thinking about this but what do I have out there … Nothing; a shitty dead-end hole to walk home to, no job and no money—A constant threat of danger and hiding endlessly from old enemies. My life is pitiful and has been since I left here. I couldn’t sink any lower if I tried.

I was always safe here with him—even when he was making me lose my mind—he protected me, took care of me, even while torturing me.

Maybe with boundaries …?

the apartment above as part of the deal.’ It’s out, even as my own head is trying to shake sense into me, reminding me that this club comes with a connection to him, always! I am too enraged at seeing it for myself. What she has done to my baby. Doubts and excuses and real hesitation as I try to argue with myself internally, but it’s falling by the wayside behind my

giving way to business Alexi and that flash of something in his eye fuels my fire. He is calmly negotiating and moving closer so subtly that I don’t even react …

in and out whenever you feel like it,’ I retort not backing down, and this time Alexi uncrosses his arms

first. It won’t be like before. You set rules and I will obey them.’ His eyes lock on mine intensely, something slightly warm in that nothing expression and the air seems to sizzle between us. He’s isn’t being the Carrero I know and that should put me on high alert, but insanely, I believe

good slap for this level

clinging on in

encrusted carrot to a starving

but I have my eye on bigger goals

arm’s length … Not like how

This is stupid! RUN Camilla RUN, as fast and far away as you can. Alexi is not going to ever

on my hips and nod my head at the room, stand my ground and face him, locked in a stand-off. I am angrily determined to put right what that idiot has done in here; even if that means

isn’t his anymore. I know what I am walking into this time. I know how to deal

am telling myself over and over, wondering if I say it enough will

his slut around after he discarded me. I wonder if that’s a part of my reasoning not to back down. If I come back, I have the pleasure of kicking

off. You can train someone else in the meantime and replace her when you have.’ Alexi isn’t budging either, even if he is trying to pretend he is a sane and stable person. I suppose

just keep sex out of the equation this time

asking permission or arguing the point. I decide … you do!’ I raise my chin, widening my eyes at him to show I won’t back down on that one at all, in any way, and he just nods at me without

is—even if

on my apartment floor and this is the first stages of hell when they lure you into a false future before ripping the floor away and letting you drop into the fiery pit below. Alexi would

There’s nothing in his casual pose to suggest anything devious in his intention. God knows my eyes are scrutinising him for any hint of his

that I don’t want to go back to that apartment and have no energy or cash to do it anyway. I need to lie down and I don’t want to waste any time in checking this place over and start sorting out a list of things that need seeing to immediately. I want all the bookings cancelled until this place is deep cleaned and sanitised while I order all new stock.’ It’s a bolshie order, but if I am stupid enough to do this then I may as well commit and do it right. The thought of never having to go back to that dank room and crappy building isn’t exactly breaking me up inside. In fact, I am suddenly filled with renewed vigour

with a look of irritation and avoids laying his hands on it. He turns to me, propping one leg up casually on the support of the seat under him. Leaning against the counter he lays an elbow on top instead of naked skin, obviously aware it’s not the cleanest. Believe it or not, Alexi is a bit of a germaphobe. Not majorly,

she’s turned it into a scratched-up piece

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